•Thank God for Trump, he means business — Adeboye,

•Nigeria on the brink of collapse — Oyedepo cries out in Washington over massive Christian persecution

•U.S President Donald Trump recognized alongside Nigeria's foremost spiritual fathers at historic US Nigeria Faith Heroes Award Gala Night Host by Save Nigeria Group USA at the Hilton.

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and the founder of The Living Faith Church Worldwide, Senior Pastor David Oyedepo, have praised the United States President, Donald Trump for taking recent military actions against terrorism and called for more of such action to stem the tide of the unrelenting terror attacks by extremists in Nigeria.

Both religious leaders spoke to a packed audience drawn from a cross section of activists of all races and cadres from across the United States in Washington DC during award night for President Trump, two Congressmen, Rep. Chris Smith and Rep. Riley Moore both of whom have tabled a bill seeking to end terrorism in Nigeria by punishing the sponsors, and other activists who have championed the cause of religious freedom in Nigeria. The RCCG Leader also spoke on the criticism that he had maintained a stoic silence while extremists carried out the killings and kidnaps of Christians and other vulnerable communities across Nigeria noting that as an elder religious leader, he embarked on a "spiritual warfare" rather than scream to escalate tension with concomitant reactions. According to him it was not a surprise when President Trump intervened having followed events and warned of dire consequences for the perpetrators of the violence. Both leaders made fervent appeals for U.S intervention in Nigeria’s escalating security crisis.

The grand event tagged "Faith Heroes Award Gala" was organized by the Save Nigeria Group, U.S.A with the participation of the US-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition at the Hilton Garden Inn, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.

Adeboye who rued that “Terrorism is now at my doorstep,” appealed for a global coalition, led by the United States and its Western allies, to help defeat terrorism in Nigeria, while cautioning that the violence that has consumed communities across the country was no longer distant from him.

The appeal came as former United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback, and Dr. Katrina Swett, a prominent advocate for human rights, religious freedom and international justice, criticized Nigerian authorities for failing to protect citizens of all faiths from extremist violence.

In an emotion-laden address after receiving an award at the gala, Adeboye said terrorism had worsened since the December attacks on terrorist camps in northern Nigeria. He said the United States and other Western powers would need to take more decisive action if peace was to return to Nigeria.

Drawing from Isaac Newton’s first law of motion, Adeboye said Nigeria was trapped by what he described as a structure of untouchables, powerful actors who make the fight against terrorism difficult from within.

“There are certain people in my country that, I regret to say, are untouchable, and only God can deal with them,” Adeboye said. “If you want to help us, help us more. No matter who is in office in Nigeria, only God can help us. Use your influence to help us.”

Adeboye thanked President Donald Trump and the United States government for what he described as assistance to Nigeria. But he said the work had not gone far enough.

He said Nigeria needed the combined effort of countries such as the United States, Britain, Australia and other Western allies to help confront terrorist groups and restore peace.

While acknowledging that people of different religions have suffered from terrorist attacks, Adeboye said Christians had become the prime targets of many of the killings. He added that none of the major ongoing attacks could be traced to Christians.

The cleric also responded to criticism that he had not done enough because much of the violence was concentrated in northern Nigeria. He said the scale of the crisis had moved beyond what any religious leader or local institution could address alone.

He warned that without external support, Nigeria might not know peace, saying terrorists were emboldened and communities were being overrun.

Adeboye said his church had established an internally displaced persons camp to help victims of terrorist violence. He said victims were being provided food and relief, and that plans were underway to establish a secondary school for young people in the camp, along with skills training for adults.

The crisis, he said, had created an estimated 11 million displaced persons, many of whom had lost homes, livelihoods and access to education.

Adeboye, however, said he did not support sweeping accusations that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was doing nothing to fight terrorism. He said, like Trump, Tinubu’s role as commander in chief was to give instructions to the military, but the effectiveness of those instructions depended on execution.

He also said he had advised Tinubu to meet with Trump to demonstrate seriousness in the fight against terrorism before the December military action.

Though Adeboye said he does not agree with everything Trump says , he described the American president as the best politician he had ever known because, according to him, Trump acts on his promises.

“To be a good politician, you must be able to speak two different things from the same mouth,” Adeboye said. “And I like him because when he says, ‘I want to do this,’ you better get ready.”

Adeboye said that as Trump winds down the Iran war, he should complete what the cleric described as the good work he started in December against terrorist camps in Nigeria.

He said the terrorists were mocking the faith of their victims.

“They are asking, ‘Where is their God?’” Adeboye said, adding that he had gone to God in agony and deep prayer several times over the crisis.

Brownback, a former governor of Kansas who also served in the United States Senate and House of Representatives, said it was painful that Nigeria was still bleeding, making apparent reference to the latest killings of 22 persons in Plateau State by suspected Islamist terrorists.

He warned that Nigeria risked losing the nation if terrorists were allowed to overrun it.

Brownback said the United States wanted to help Nigeria defeat terrorism so that Nigerians could fulfil the promise of their country.

He described Nigeria as being “out in the fork” and urged Nigerians and their allies to subdue terrorist networks, including Fulani terrorist groups, and resist any attempt to turn the country into a caliphate.

Swett, in her remarks, described Nigeria as a country of extraordinary people and said America must do more to help Nigeria fight terrorism.

“Yes, the future is in the hands of Nigerians, but America has powerful leverage to do more,” she said.

She expressed satisfaction that the Trump administration was placing Nigeria at the centre of international discussion on religious freedom and terrorism.

In his remarks, Stephen Osemwegie, president of Save Nigeria Group USA and convener of the US-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition, said the mission would not be complete until the entire terrorist network in Nigeria was dismantled.

“Terrorism is not a Nigerian or American issue,” Osemwegie said. “We need global support to establish global peace.”

He urged both chambers of the United States Congress to speedily pass H.R. 7457, the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2025, and send it to President Trump for signature.

Osemwegie paid tribute to two members of Congress, Christopher Smith of New Jersey’s 4th Congressional District and Riley Moore of West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, for their sustained efforts in keeping terrorism in Nigeria on the American policy agenda.

He also praised Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo and Leah Sharibu, describing them as symbols of Christian resilience in the face of persecution.

The event, which organisers called “Thank You, America,” brought together religious leaders, Nigerian diaspora advocates and American human rights voices pressing for stronger action against terrorism and religious persecution in Nigeria.

Among those honoured with the Faith Heroes Award was Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church, who was represented at the event.

For the organisers, the Washington gathering was both a tribute and a warning: a tribute to those they say have stood for persecuted Christians in Nigeria, and a warning that without global intervention, the crisis could further unravel Africa’s most populous nation.

Adeboye’s message was simple, urgent and unmistakable. Nigeria, he said, needs help beyond its borders.

“Use your influence to help us,” he said.

“My Heart Bleeds” — Oyedepo Warns of Total Anarchy, Backs US Congress Bill

Echoing this profound urgency in a powerful keynote address, Bishop David Oyedepo—who extended his apologies for his physical absence but whose words resonated deeply through the hall—declared that Nigeria is “virtually at the brink of collapse.”

Bishop David Oyedepo delivered his keynote address at the gala night represented by 4 persons- Pastor Deji Akin Abiri, Pastor Dayo Ojo, Apostle Jacob Sharpe and Pastor Seyi Adeyeri.

The fiery Chancellor of Covenant University threw his weight behind a monumental legislative move unfolding in Washington: the “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026.”

Citing the horrific data compiled within the US Congressional findings, Oyedepo confronted the stark reality of Nigeria’s bleeding landscape. The findings reveal that between 2009 and 2025, an estimated 50,000 to 125,000 Christians have been martyred, with over 19,000 churches destroyed. Shockingly, the report confirms that Nigeria alone accounts for a staggering 72 percent of all Christians martyred worldwide.

Pointing directly to the operations of Fulani-ethnic militias, Boko Haram, and ISWAP, Oyedepo backed the US legislative framework seeking to designate these militant groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) under international law, referencing the brutal massacres in Benue and Plateau States that claimed over 9,500 lives between 2023 and 2025 alone.

“From the above, you can see that the happenings in our country today call for urgent action from all stakeholders and well-meaning individuals to prevent a situation of total anarchy,” Oyedepo warned.

“The intervention of the United States of America in Nigeria's affairs is a most welcome one,” Oyedepo noted, expressing deep gratitude to President Trump for his passionate concern. “My heart bleeds as I put down these few lines. We look forward to a nation that will be safe, peaceful, and prosperous again.”

Diaspora Ignites Washington

The Gala Night capped off a week of intense advocacy by Save Nigeria USA, which began on Saturday with a massive, roaring Save Nigeria Rally at MacPherson Square, just steps away from the White House.

With 26 civil society groups united under a single banner, the diaspora community has made it clear: they will no longer remain silent while their homeland bleeds. As the echoes of Adeboye’s and Oyedepo’s warnings reverberate across Washington and Nigeria, the pressure now shifts squarely back to Abuja. With the US Congress moving forward on aggressive accountability acts and a US President willing to utilize hard military leverage, Nigeria's leadership faces an unavoidable ultimatum: secure the nation, or watch the international community take the reins.

•PHOTO: Left to right: Wife of Pastor Adeboye, Folu Adeboye, Pastor Adeboye and Steven Osemwegie, President of the Save Nigeria Group USA at the event held recently at the Hilton Garden Inn, Capitol Hill, Washington DC.

Update news